Ryanair starts new routes to Ireland and Corsica

Ryanair began a new thrice-weekly service between its base at Glasgow Prestwick and Ireland West Airport Knock on 1 June. Pictured at the launch of the new service were Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock (left) and Maria Macken, Marketing Manager, UK & Ireland, Ryanair (right).

Ryanair has added two new routes to its network in the last week. On 1 June, the ULCC launched thrice-weekly flights on the 325-kilometre sector between its Glasgow Prestwick (PIK) base and Knock (NOC) in Ireland, utilising its 189-seat 737-800s. Welcoming the new service, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock said, “We are delighted that there is now a direct, quick and convenient jet flight service with Ryanair to Scotland’s largest city, direct from Ireland West Airport Knock. This service will connect Glasgow and its surrounding regions including the Western Highlands, the Clyde Valley and the South of Scotland to the West and North West of Ireland; which share similar cultural and social heritage through the many Irish ex-patriots that have emigrated to the Scottish Isles in the past. This new service will be welcome news to all those visiting friends and family, but will also have a positive impact on the region as a whole as we expect to welcome thousands of Scottish visitors on the new service as well as providing the opportunity to develop business links between the regions.” No other carrier operates this route. The following day, on 2 June, Ryanair began a four times weekly service from Paris Beauvais (BVA) to Figari (FSC) on the island of Corsica. Frequency on the 1,040-kilometre route will increase to six times weekly during the peak August period. No other carrier operates on this airport pair either, though Air France and XL Airways France offer flights from Paris CDG, while Air Corsica offers multiple daily flights from Paris Orly. Ryanair’s only other service to Figari, from Brussels Charleroi, launched in July 2009.